Minister of Social Solidarity and Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the National Foundation for Facilitating Pilgrimage Dr. Maya Morsy announced the opening of applications for members of NGOs wishing to perform Hajj for the 1448 AH – 2027 season. Applications will be accepted from Tuesday, August 18, until Monday, August 31, noting that no requests submitted after this date will be considered.
The minister confirmed that several conditions must be met by applicants. All NGOs and civil institutions subject to Law No. 149 of 2019 on the regulation of civil work must be registered before July 1, 2026, and must not be subject to dissolution lawsuits or referral to the Public Prosecution.
Eligible NGOs may nominate candidates who meet the following requirements: applicants must be registered members of the NGO’s general assembly and have paid their annual subscription. For institutions, applicants must be members of the board of trustees or founders.
Applicants must never have performed Hajj before, and verification will be conducted for winners after the lottery results are announced through official travel records.
Applicants must be Egyptian citizens, fully capable of performing the rituals, and at least 21 years old as of January 28, 2027 (20 Shaaban 1448 AH). Exceptions apply for companions of parents, who may be as young as 18. Women under 45 are not required to have a mahram. Applicants over 75 must have a companion, and companions of persons with mobility or visual disabilities must be of the same gender, supported by medical reports from accredited hospitals.
Certain medical conditions are excluded from eligibility, based on Ministry of Health guidelines, including: patients requiring dialysis, pulmonary fibrosis, morbid obesity, advanced cardiovascular or liver disease, active cancer under treatment, pregnant women in the last trimester or high‑risk pregnancies, severe mental illnesses such as dementia, and active infectious diseases like open pulmonary tuberculosis or hemorrhagic fevers. The Foundation reserves the right to re‑examine lottery winners to confirm their health status and exclude those unable to perform the rituals safely.
Applicants may not register with more than one NGO or other entity (e.g., tourism companies or the Ministry of Interior lottery). The first application submitted on the unified portal will be considered, and national ID cards must be valid for at least six months from the date of registration.
Ayman Abdel Mawgoud, Permanent Undersecretary of the Ministry and Managing Director of the Foundation, explained that application forms will be distributed through social affairs offices to eligible NGOs. Each form may include up to three applicants from one family. NGOs must verify the accuracy of applicants’ data and bear responsibility for any errors, with penalties including exclusion from the following year’s pilgrimage program.
Applications may also be submitted electronically via the unified Hajj portal after payment of the required fees through approved electronic methods. Applications remain under review until data verification by the relevant Social Solidarity Directorate. Incorrect applications will be flagged and removed.
The quota of each governorate will be allocated proportionally to the number of applications received, with one supervisor assigned for every 46 pilgrims.
The electronic public lottery will be conducted centrally in early September 2026 under the supervision of the minister on the unified Hajj portal , with representatives from each governorate present. Final results (main list plus 30% reserve) will be published on the ministry and Foundation websites, as well as at directorates and social affairs offices.
Winners must undergo medical examinations at hospitals designated by the Ministry of Health in each governorate, at their own expense, to confirm their fitness to perform Hajj. Those found medically unfit will be excluded to safeguard their health and that of fellow pilgrims.
Source: The National Media Authority Portal
